Five College MUN Liveblog: Opening Ceremonies & Delegates in Action

The Five College Model United Nations conference (FCMUN) is jointly hosted by Mount Holyoke College, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Smith College, Amherst College, and Hampshire College, and is led by Secretary-General Margaret Fitzgerald from Mount Holyoke College. It’s a smaller college conference but one that the Best Delegate team thought was interesting to showcase. We have a photoblog of the conference and of the delegates in action from almost every committee here — check out it!

Opening Ceremonies featured keynote speaker Catlin Powers, Science Advisor at One Earth Designs. Best Delegate‘s Kevin Felix Chan actually met Catlin on the bus ride to Mt. Holyoke and it was interesting to hear about her work incubating local innovation and entrepreneurship in developing countries. Caitlin spoke about the emerging markets — the world that our leaders will be living and negotiating in — and the importance of being a leader today.

Five College Model UN Secretariat poses with keynote speaker Catlin Powers of One Earth Designs (fourth from left)

Afterward, the committees kicked off with some interesting debates.

The European External Action Service tested the effectiveness of the European Union’s security and defense abilities in the post-Treaty of Lisbon arrangement. They faced a variety of crises starting out with Somali pirates.

Delegates in the European External Action Service watch a crisis video of Dutch nationals being held hostage by Somali pirates

Delegates in the European External Action Service look genuinely concerned as they contemplate the quickest solution to rescuing the hostages

A delegate from the United States Naval Academy suggests a solution in the European External Action Service

The Indian cabinet has a familiar topic to discuss: tensions with Pakistan.

Tensions run high as a delegate makes his comment

A delegate guards the Top Secret folder in the Indian cabinet

A delegate warns against rushing into action when it comes to dealing with Pakistan

The Historical Security Council (1990s) debated about UN actions against Iraq after Iraq had invaded Kuwait. On a personal note, I chaired this same committee and topic at UCLA’s high school conference several years ago, so it will be interesting to see if history will be re-written here.

France is passionate about his solution

The United Kingdom brings up a second draft resolution to contrast against one that was previously submitted

The keynote speaker spoke about the importance of addressing the Millennium Development Goals, and FCMUN simulated a committee that allowed delegates to do just that.

Delegates present their draft resolution on the issue of education in the MDG committee

Emerging economies like China (left) and Saudi Arabia (center) listen to the draft resolution with concern

The dais for the Millennium Development Goals committee smiles for the camera!

Here are several other committees in action:

Chair Emily Borden is flanked by elvish vice chairs in the Lord of the Rings committee

Florida State star delegate Sara Dejam (black top) leads the caucus bloc on climate change discussions in the UNFCCC. This is her third time appearing on Best Delegate this season.

Delegates react to an India-Pakistan crisis escalation in the G20 committee. FCMUN did a great job using tumblr to deliver crisis updates.